Promise

I didn’t marry you because you were
Perfect. I didn’t even marry you because
I loved you. I married you because you
Gave me a promise. That promise made
Up for your faults. And the promise I
Gave you made up for mine. Two
Imperfect people got married and it was
The promise that made the marriage.
And when our children were growing up, it
Wasn’t a house tat protected them; and
It wasn’t our love that protected them --
It was that promise.

Thornton Wilder